Part 1: Reading Comprehension

(29 points)

Read the passage below carefully and then answer questions 1-3

TV FANS FEEL AS SICK AS THEIR SOAP FAVOURITES

{I}

People are visiting their GPs (Family Doctors) with symptoms they think they share with their favourite television characters, according to a new study. The syndrome, branded "telly belly", is putting the NHS (National Health Service) under pressure but raising awareness of important issues and, in some cases, replacing official information, say researchers. The study examined the working life of doctors and concluded that media stories on health issues, such as those featured on the news or in soap operas, had a significant effect on people's perception of their well-being.

{II}

Recent examples of "telly belly" include a couple of storylines in EastEnders. Tom Banks, a fireman in the BBC soap played by Colm O'Maonlai, was scripted as having a terminal brain tumour before his death in a house fire. Martin Fowler suffered a rash because he was worried about his driving test. "Someone has a headache and gets immersed in a storyline and thinks 'is this a headache or something worse?' " said a researcher. "In the end Tom [Banks] died in a fire." When Alma Sedgwick, a character in Coronation Street, died of cervical cancer, the rate of smear tests was said to have risen by 200 per cent. A breast cancer storyline in EastEnders is thought likely to have a similar effect.

{III}

Other storylines which have increased public awareness of disease include the death of Kevin and Alison Webster's baby Jake in Coronation Street from Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection. About 700 babies are infected with GBS each year in Britain, sometimes in the womb, others during birth. Stuart Calder, 23, from Duns in the Borders, said his life was changed after watching a television documentary about testicular cancer. "The next morning I made a point of checking myself in the shower and was shocked to find a lump the size of a pea," he said. He had the testicle removed and a false one implanted.

{IV}

More than nine out of 10 GPs said coverage of illnesses on television affected their surgeries, with patients more likely to self-diagnose an illness than they were 10 years ago. A quarter of patients who diagnosed themselves were right, while two thirds were occasionally right. One in 10 hardly ever got it correct. Three quarters of GPs believed women were better informed about health than men.

{V}

The survey among 200 family doctors was commissioned by the medical insurers Norwich Union Healthcare. Tim Baker, a spokesman, said: "TV health scares clearly put added pressure on GPs. But I'm sure doctors welcome the population's growing interest in its own well-being." Dr John Henry, professor of accident medicine at St Mary's Hospital & Imperial College Medical School in London, said: "Anything which empowers patients to take more responsibility for their own well-being is to be applauded."

Sky News

Questions: (29 points)

Answer questions 1-3 as instructed, according to the context of the passage.

In question 1(a) circle the number of the most suitable answer.

Pay careful attention to spelling and grammar.

1(a) What is the syndrome branded “telly belly”? (Paragraph I) [1 point]

i) A show on television

ii) An illness doctors suffer from

iii) Symptoms people share with favourite television characters

iv) Something people catch from watching television

1(b) What is “telly belly’ doing to the NHS? (Paragraph I) [4 points]

ii)

1(c) Complete the sentence according to Paragraph II. [4 points]

Two recent storyline exampes of ‘”telly belly” include Tom Banks having terminal __________ cancer and Martin Fowler suffered a rash due to _________.

1(d) Give one example of a soap character’s illness that caused people to be concerned about their own health. [3 points]

Answer:

2(a) Describe two ways in which television has helped awareness of diseases. (Paragraph III) [4 points]

ii)

2(b) Fill in the missing information (one word in each space) according to the context of Paragraph IV. [4 points]

Of the people who self-diagnosed, a _________ were right and the majority of GPs believed women knew more about ________ issues than men.

3(a) Give one positive and one negative aspect for soaps featuring health issues. (Paragraph IV) [6 points]

i) The positive aspect……….

ii) The negative aspect………

3(b) In your own words what is the opinion of Dr John Henry. (Paragraph V) [3 points]

Answer:

Part II: Reading Comprehension

(13 points)

Read the text below carefully and answer question 4

TCM OFFERS A DIFFERENT WAY TO DIAGNOSE YOUR HEALTH

In Chinese Medicine texts, there is no discussion of diseases or disorders as we know them in the West: If you go to see an herbalist, acupuncturist or Chinese medicine doctor because you are suffering from chronic migraine, the practitioner may diagnosis you as having Liver Qi Stagnation, Liver Heat, Dampness, Qi and Blood Deficiency or Excess Yang, depending on the signs and symptoms that accompany your headache. If you have nausea, gas and bloating you may be diagnosed with Deficient Spleen System Qi.

What Does It Mean? The practitioner describes the disharmonies in terms of the patterns they manifest. These are known as the Eight Fundamental Patterns: Interior, Exterior; Heat, Cold; Excess, Deficiency; Yin, Yang. These terms are used to describe the way that disharmony is created in the mind/body/spirit.

1) Interior and Exterior patterns tell the practitioner where in the body the disease resides.

Interior patterns of disharmony are indicated if the disharmony is chronic

Exterior patterns of disharmony often come on suddenly and are acute.

2) Heat and Cold describe the activity of the body and the nature of the disease.

Cold patterns are caused by Deficient Yang or an External Pernicious Cold Influence. Heat patterns are caused by invasion of External Pernicious Heat Influence,

the depletion of Yin substances and Excess Yang.

3) Deficiency and Excess express the impact of the disharmony on the body's resistance to disease (Normal Qi).

4) Yin and Yang encompass the other six Fundamental Patterns. Yin encompasses Interior, Cold and Deficient; Yang encompasses Exterior, Heat and Excess.

Doc Misha’s Paths to Wholeness. Understanding Chinese Medicine

Questions: (13 points)

Answer question 4 (a-c) as instructed, according to the context of the text.

Pay careful attention to spelling and grammar.

4(a) On what basis would a Chinese medical practitioner diagnose a disease. [4 points]

Complete the sentence

The practitioner……..

4(b) Explain the differences between the following: [6 points]

Interior and Exterior patterns of disharmony…….

Cold and Heat patterns of disharmony

Yin and Yang patterns of disharmony

4(c) Given the descriptions of the other disharmonies, fill in the gaps in the sentences below, using the words deficiency and excess appropriately.

i) With ____________ there is an underactivity in the organ system

ii) With ____________ there is an overactivity of bodily functions

Part III: Reading Comprehension

(18 points)

Read the passage below carefully and then answer question 5.

THIEVES TAKE RARE NEWTON BOOK

{I}

Thieves have stolen a rare first edition of Isaac Newton's Principia from a library in St Petersburg. Principis or "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica" was published in 1687 and is one of the most influential books ever published. In it, Newton formulated his three laws of motion and his law of gravity. The St Petersburg volume was taken from the reading room of Russia's National Library on the 6 November. An investigation is underway. Museum officials are uncertain if it was an opportunistic theft or if the rare book was stolen to order.

{II}

Principia is without question one of history's most famous books. Newton's three laws of motion and his theory of gravitation formed the basis for the scientific revolution of the past few centuries. The first edition was produced in 1687; only "about 250 copies" were ever printed. Two other editions of the work were produced in Newton's lifetime. Of those 250 original copies, it is estimated that about 200 still exist with 70 of them in US libraries. In recent years, the cost of Newton's original work has risen considerably with copies of the Principia reaching in excess of £200,000 on the open market. Following a spate of thefts of rare scientific books from libraries and museums in Europe, there has been speculation that some of them may be being stolen for a growing black market in such treasures.

BBC News Online

Questions: (18 points)

Answer question 5 (items a-d) as instructed, according to the context of the passage.

Pay careful attention to spelling and grammar.

5(a) What are the subjects of Issac Newton’s Principis? [Paragraph I] {4 points}

ii)

5(b) What reasons to museum officials offer for the disappearance of the book? [Paragraph I] {4 points}

ii)

5(c) In your own words explain why this book is so rare. [Paragraph II] {6 points}

Answer:

5(d) Complete the sentence according to the context of paragraph II. {4 points}

Recently the value of Newton’s original work has increased thereby aiding _________ that the book may have been ________ for sale on the growing black market.

Part IV: Cloze Exercise.

(10 points)

Fill in the missing words (one word in each space); the missing word may be part of speech. Pay special attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation.

(10 points; 1 point for each word)

Important: Read the whole passage through before doing the exercise.

6. FOOD SAFETY

Every good cook knows the importance of good (1_________), but every year many people suffer from eating or drinking unsafe food. Better (2________) of the importance of food preparation, storage and cooking is one of the key things that can cut down food poisoning.

When buying food, check it before you buy it. Do not purchase damaged or out-of-date food. Carry perishable food in a cool bag and (3_________) in a refrigerator as soon as possible. Maintain you own stock control. Check the (4__________) dates on food products. Use within (5_________) dates and store according to the instructions. Throw out of date food away. Always store foods at the appropriate temperatures and in clean conditions. If food is stored at room temperature make sure it is (6_________) covered or in a sealed container.

Put raw meat, poultry and fish at the bottom of the fridge and cooked food on the shelf above to make sure raw products can’t drip (7__________) other foods and to prevent cross contamination. You could also put raw foods in a sealed container.

Check the temperature of your fridge (between 0°C and 5°C) and freezer (minus 18°C) at (8___________) once a week. Never put hot food in a fridge. Cool down hot foods to room temperature as (9_________) as possible before putting them in the fridge - and use within two days. Freezers are ideal for storing foods for (10_________) periods, but no food lasts forever, however well it is stored..

Part V: Writing tasks

(20 points)

Write in English on both of the following topics, no. 7 and no. 8.

Write about 120 –130 words on each topic.

7. Your school newspaper has asked pupils to write on the following topic:

Is alternative medicine as good as conventional medicine.

Write a passage for the newspaper, discussing the advantages and/or disadvantages of alternative medicine,

You may consider personal. Health, social or economical aspects.

8. After watching your favourite television soap you felt they failed to portray the health issues realistically.

Write a letter to the complaints department of the television station stating why you felt the programme was disappointing and how it could be improved upon.

Answers to exam1